Transfer talk: Manchester City can afford Lionel Messi; Arsenal bid £63m for Ilkay Gundogan and Mats Hummels; United want Marquinhos

The biggest transfer news and rumours on Thursday 15 January

Lionel Messi, Mats Hummels, Ilay Gundogan and Marquinhos (Getty Images)

Manchester City remain in the hunt for Lionel Messi as the Barcelona forward’s future continues to be one of the most talked about subjects of the January transfer window. Despite talk of a move for Messi set to cost £200m plus up to £300m in wages and add-ons, Manuel Pellegrini has claimed that City can afford to sign the Argentinian following claims that only Manchester United and Real Madrid could afford the 27-year-old.

The Sun reports that Pellegrini confirmed City’s financial spending power when speaking about Messi, although he did also admit that “there is nothing in that way concrete in this case”.

Arsenal are yet to make their move in the transfer window despite Arsene Wenger’s claims that they will be looking to strengthen the squad this month, and the Gunners are now being linked with a blockbuster £63m raid on Borussia Dortmund to sign Germany internationals Ilkay Gundogan and Mats Hummels. The Daily Star claims that Hummels, who is frustrated with Dortmund’s poor form this season that sees them in the relegation zone in 17th place, is unwilling to commit his future to the club, saying: “I have stayed until today. I will stick to my way of not promising anything and maybe leave someday instead of saying I will stay forever and then leave all of a sudden.”

Meanwhile Palermo are said to have rejected interest in young striker Paulo Dybala from Manchester United. The 21-year-old Argentinian is a reported target for Arsenal and Tottenham, but would cost in excess of £30m is he were to leave during the current transfer window. The club’s president, Maurizio Zamparini, told Radio Due: “Dybala is worth over €40m [£31m] but I won’t sell him until June.”

Paulo Dybala will cost over £30m (GETTY IMAGES)

Adnan Januzaj remains one of the most sought-after loan targets this month with Paris St-Germain, Porto and Juventus reported to be interested in his services for the rest of the season. The Sun claims that Januzaj is garnering interest from some of the biggest clubs around Europe having fallen out of the first team at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal, and David Moyes is also believed to be interested in bringing the winger to Real Sociedad having given him his debut at United last season.

Reports in France suggest that United have begun talks regarding a £30m transfer for Paris St-Germain defender Marquinhos. The 20-year-old Brazilian is highly regarded across the world and is seen to be the answer to Brazil’s troubles in defence, and Barcelona showed heavy interest in him last summer before he was convinced to remain with the Ligue 1 champions. However, Thiago Silva and David Luiz are keeping him out the starting line-up for both club and country, and with United determined to strengthen their defence this month, French newspaper Le10Sport report that the Premier League club have contacted PSG regarding a move.

PSG defender Marquinhos is currently third-choice at PSG (Getty Images)

One United player who could be on his way out of the club is Darren Fletcher, with the Daily Express reporting that West Brom manager Tony Pulis is determined to bring the Scottish international to the Hawthorns.

Raphael Varane remains on Chelsea's radar (GETTY IMAGES)

And finally, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is reported to have lost patience with Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah after they’ve failed to make an impact this season. Mourinho said before the FA Cup third round victory over Watford that is they cannot do it against a Championship side, they weren’t good enough to feature in a Premier League title challenge. The Daily Star reports that both will be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge, and could fund a move for Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane, who remains top of Mourinho’s wish list following their time at the Santiago Bernabeu together.